MCP’s Sitolo blasts DPP’s Ganda for refusing to take part in debate | Malawi Nyasa Times

MCP’s Sitolo blasts DPP’s Ganda for refusing to take part in debate | Malawi Nyasa Times

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidate for Nsanje-Lalanje Lawrence Sitolo has branded Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Gladys Ganda’s behaviour “strange” when she avoided a political debate where she was scheduled to face her two rivals last Thursday.

Sitolo: MCP candidate in Nsanje Lalanje

Sitolo said Ganda’s “attempt to dodge scrutiny shows how she holds the electorate in contempt” as she was seen passing by the venue of the debate with a group of her supporters while the event was in progress.

The debate, organised by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, was held at Bangula Trading Centre in Nsanje, where Sitolo and an independent aspirant Winnie Wakudyanaye turned up.

““Elections and democracy are about public debate so it’s rather strange that a person who wants to be an MP is running away from public scruitiny,” Sitolo said.

He said Nsanje Lalanje people deserve to see their potential leaders talking about the future of the constituency .

The three aspirants were supposed to outline their manifestos to the electorates, besides urging them to co-exist following political violence that has characterised the by-election campaign.

Ganda apparently confirmed to participate in the debeate ahead of the October 17 parliamentary by-election, according to Nice Trust regional civic education officer (South) Enock Chinkhuntha but organisers were surprised that she snubbed the debate without giving any reason for her failure to attend.

Chinkhunthata said Ganda’s snub is “unfortunate,” saying “it is a cause of worry to the functionality of democracy.”

Nsanje-Lalanje Constituency fell vacant following the death of the then legislator, Sam Ganda, of DPP on May 16 2017.